Canucks Report - Rookies Golden in Edmonton

CANUCKS 4 VS. GOLDEN BEARS 3 - FINAL

PRE-GAME

The Canucks prospects are set to faceoff against the University of Alberta's Golden Bears in a mini three-team tournament. The Edmonton Oilers are the other participating team and will meet the Canucks tomorrow night at 6:00pm PST.

This is a long tradition, dating back 20 years for the U of A and the Oilers but this is the first time the Canucks will meet the Golden Bears on the ice.

The Golden Bears have an impressive 13 national CIS championships - the most amongst all CIS hockey teams. Alberta has a slight lead over the Oiler prospects over the tournament with a record of 11-10-0, which means tonight's battle for the Canuck rookies, won't be easy.

Travis Yonkman-Alberta’s new goaltender is a 6’1”, 187lbs Saskatoon native who spent four seasons with the Swift Current Broncos. He sports a WHL career line of 70-49-10, with seven shutouts, a .891 save percentage, and 3.34 goals against average in 147 games played.

Derek Ryan-The third year center had 51 points (23 goals –28 assists) in 39 games overall for Alberta last season, and centers the Bears’ best line between Chad Klassen and Brian Woolger. He was Alberta’s best player during the 2009 national championship tournament, finishing with four points in four games.

Canucks ones to watch:

Sergei Shirokov: The 5'10", forward from Moscow, Russia is making his much anticipated North American debut in a Canucks jersey tonight and all eyes will be watching to see what the young Russian star can do. He had 17 goals and 24 assists in 56 games with CSKA in the Russian League last season.**Update** Shirokov was the last one off the ice during warmup to take a couple extra sharp angle shots.

Evan Oberg: All week, reporters surround the 21-year old from Forestburg, Alberta and as he tries to show how he can provide depth to the Canucks d-core. Freshly out of college and participating in his first NHL training camp, Oberg had seven goals and 20 assists in his sophomore year at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

9:52 - Third straight penalty for Vancouver. Yann Suave is off for hooking.

10:38 - Great save by free agent tryout prospect, James Reid to reach out through traffic to stop a point shot from Gimblett.

11:45 - Shirokov showing off his speed and patience as he takes a lead pass nearing the end of the powerplay to feed a pass through an Alberta d-man to 2009 draft pick, Steven Anthony, who just missed the pass.

13:30 Canucks shorthanded again. Taylor Ellington is sent to the box for 2 minutes for roughing.

16:25 - Prab Rai skates with the puck from end to end and gets the puck right to the crease but Golden Bear, goalie Travis Yonkman just stops him.

8:20 - Taylor Ellington (who's wearing an A on his jersey) puts Albeta back on the PP (holding)

Mario Bliznak is also wearing an A tonight

50/50 winning ticket 774019

10:20 Ellington penalty killed off by Vancouver

Lucky 50/50 winner took home $250

16:08 - Hunter and Ellington each get 10 minute misconducts for some rough stuff after the whistle and created a scrum from Yonkman's crease to centre ice. Taylor gets an extra two for chirping afterwards.